Загублений світ
Those Were the Real Conquests
Theoldfellowclaspedourhands,eachinturn,whilehismencheeredlouderthanever.Itwastoolatetoadvancethatnight,sotheIndianssettleddownintoarudebivouac.Onallsidestheirfiresbegantoglimmerandsmoke.Someofthemwhohaddisappearedintothejunglecamebackpresentlydrivingayoungiguanodonbeforethem.Liketheothers,ithadadaubofasphaltuponitsshoulder,anditwasonlywhenwesawoneofthenativesstepforwardwiththeairofanownerandgivehisconsenttothebeast’sslaughterthatweunderstoodatlastthatthesegreatcreatureswereasmuchprivatepropertyasaherdofcattle,andthatthesesymbolswhichhadsoperplexeduswerenothingmorethanthemarksoftheowner.Helpless,torpid,andvegetarian,withgreatlimbsbutaminutebrain,theycouldberoundedupanddrivenbyachild.Inafewminutesthehugebeasthadbeencutupandslabsofhimwerehangingoveradozencampfires,togetherwithgreatscalyganoidfishwhichhadbeenspearedinthelake.
Summerleehadlaindownandsleptuponthesand,butweothersroamedroundtheedgeofthewater,seekingtolearnsomethingmoreofthisstrangecountry.Twicewefoundpitsofblueclay,suchaswehadalreadyseenintheswampofthepterodactyls.Thesewereoldvolcanicvents,andforsomereasonexcitedthegreatestinterestinLordJohn.WhatattractedChallenger,ontheotherhand,wasabubbling,gurglingmudgeyser,wheresomestrangegasformedgreatburstingbubblesuponthesurface.
